The most beautiful churches cathedrals basilicas and chapels Lausanne

Catholic worship, abolished in 1536 by the Bernese, resumed in private homes in 1798 and, from 1812, in the new Mercerie temple. In 1832, the church of Notre-Dame du Valentin was built, the first Catholic church built in Lausanne after the Reformation. In 1992, it was elevated to the rank of basilica by Pope John Paul II. The church features a magnificent fresco by Italian Futurist Cubist painter Gino Severini (1883-1966).

Built in the 13th century on the ruins of an old church dating from the year 1000, Saint-Laurent is the first Protestant temple founded by the Bernese. Having survived with difficulty through the ages, notably because of the fire in Lausanne and certain acts of vandalism, a new temple was built between 1716 and 1719, and the main façade was renewed again in 1762. Today, the Reformed Church of St. Lawrence offers visitors the opportunity to observe its beautiful baroque façade with a clock tower.

Today a Protestant temple, Saint-François was originally a convent. Built around 1270 by Franciscan monks from Besançon, they are the ones who contributed to the extension of the vineyards of Lavaux. The upper parts date back to 1370-1387 and the bell tower, 56 m high, around 1400. Inside, the pews are reversible (ingenious system of rocking backrests), to listen to both mass and the magnificent organ concerts in April and November. Note that the vaults of the choir have a painted decoration of false joints, white on a beige background.